Calibrating mechanism for piston meters



Oct. 15, 1935. i H. G. WEYMOUTH 2,017,267

CALIBRATING MECHANISM FOR PISTON METERS Filed Sept. 30( 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l IHHHHIHHI HI J H\ Vil Oct 15, 1935. H. G. WEYMOUTH 2,017,267

CALIBRATING MECHANISM FOR PISTON METERS Filed Sept. 30, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 15, 1935 TE %TTE ArENr OFFICE CALERATING MECHANISM FOR PISTON METERS Application September 30, 1930, Serial No. ;85,513

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a fluid metering mechanism and more particularly to fluid meter mechanisms or" the double acting pisten type. While fluid meter mechanisms according tothis invention are adapted for fiuids of any character they are particularly useful with a gascline dispensing apparatus due to the novel and simple adjustments for calib rating them for accuracy.

10 This application is a centinuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 415316 filed Dec. 21, 1929,

entitled "Piston type meter."

In systems designed for the ready dispensng of liquid such as gasoline the liquid is usually supplied under pressure to a discharge hose and the flow is controlled by a manually operable valve arranged in the discharge end of the hose. such systems are usually provided with meters of various types that are actuated by the flow of 20 gasciine and communicate movement to a registering mechanism, the dial and hands thereof being arranged to be visible to the purchaser of the gasoline.

In order to comply with various municipal and State 'egulations regarding the accuracy of gasoline dispensing systems in dispensing fiuids of varying specific gravities it is necessary that these systems be provided with some means of adjustment, so that the registering mechanism will ac- 30 curately register the true Volume of fluid passing through the meter, within certain prescribed limits of accuraoy.

One object of this invention, therefore, is toprovide a ready adjustment for liquid dispensing 35 meters of the pisten type.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustment for the throw of a pisten-type dispensing pump system, such adjustment being readily accessible without dis-mantling the pump 40 or the asscciated mechanism, and the adjusting mechanism being furthermcre so arranged that adjustment can be made from the exterior of the casing, thus greatly acilitating the calibration of the meter.

45 A further object ef this invention is to provide a fluid metering mechanism of the reciprocating pisten type, the pisten. being connected to a drive shaft for actuating the registering means, With readily adjustahle iriction drives between the 50 connecting red of the pisten and the drive shaft for the registering means.

A further object of this invention is to' provide a readily accessible and easily adjustable calibrat'- ing mechanism for a piston type meter in which 55 the parts will not slip after once being adjusted,

and in which accurate and close adjustment may be made while the meter is completely assembled.

These and various other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanyng drawings wheren:-

Figure 1 is a vertical section of one embodiment of my invention showing the adjustment for one of the pistons.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the crank disk shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the disk shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan of the disk shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a central view taken 'substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan. view of the distributing valve chamber of Figure 1, the valve housing and the valve mechanisms being omitted.

Figure 7 is a broken sectional View taken from above, of a modified form of adjustment.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the piston crank disk of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a view taken substantially on line 9-3 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan of Figures 9 and 8. Figures 11, 12 and 13 are a top plan, side elevation, and central sectional views of the guide col- 3 lar used with the modification shown in, Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters in which like parts are designated by similar characters, and referring particularly to Figures l-6 inclusive, there is provided a ported casting il, which provides a support for valve mechanism and the Operating means therefore and in efiect provides a crank shaft housing. The casting ll is of general rectangular form in plan as indicated in Figure 6 and embodies a sk'rt 40 portion !2 and a marginal fiange 13.

As indicated in Figures 1 and 5 the casting l i is oi' skeleton formation to define the necessary ports and the walls for said ports. The skirt portion i? and a central portion IS are formed to define circular seats ll and s.

Removably secured to seats ll are the upper ends of transparent cylinders !9 and removably secured to seats !8 are the upper ends of tubular members Ei which are preferably cylindrical. The lower ends of cylinders !9 and tubular members Zi are supported in seats on a bottom plate 24. suitable gaskets are interposed at the opposite ends of the cylinders iS and the tubular member 2! for providing fluid-tight co-nnections.

2. The plate 24 is removably secured to casting ll by means of a plurality of vertically disposed bolts 28 which extend through the margin of the bottom plate 24 and are threaded into the casting l I. By this Construction, the casting il, cylinders !9, tubular members 2! and bottom plate 243 are removably secured together in fiuid-tight engagement whereby the parts may be expeditiously disassembled for cleaning, repairing or replacing of parts, it being only necessary to remove the bolts 23 to effect separation.

The casting ii embodies an inlet connection 29 and an outlet connection Si adapted for connection with supply and dispensing lines. The inlet connection 29 communicates with chamber 33 in the casting !i defined by the outer face of said casting and a valve cover 34 removably secured to the casting l i by suitable bolts. Casting il is provided with ports 31 in communication with the outlet connection 3& as well as through the outer face of said casting. The casting is further provided'wi th a pair of ports 38 in communication with the outer ends of cylinders I@ and opening through the outer face of said casting. said casting is further provided with a pair of ports 39 communcating with the outer ends of tubular members 2 i. i

Bottom plate i is provided with a pair of passages 40 respectively connecting cylinders l with the tubular members 2 l.

Disposed in each of the cylinders !9 isa piston 45 adapted for vertical reciprocation therein by alternating fluid pressures on the opposite sides thereof. Pistons 45 may be of any desired construction having the usual scaling means thereon for yieldingengagement with the side walls of the cylinders. Each piston has a connecting rod 53 secured thereto, the outer end of which rotatably engages crank pin 54 secured adjacent the margin of a crank member or eccentric 55. crank members or eccentric 55 in the form of disks, are positi oned within the casting H and partially project into the outer ends of the cylinders !9. The crank disks 55 have integral hub portions 51 suitably secured to opposite ends of a cross shait 58 which is suitably journaled in the casting !i and extends through the central chamber 32 as clearly indicated in Figure 1.

The outer face of casting ll is accurately machined for fluid-tight contact therewith of a similarly machined bottom portion of a one-piece valve seat 59 removably secured to the casting i i with suitable securing elements. Valve seat 58 'includes an extension E& which projects downwardly to provide a bearing for a vertical shaft 68 which has at its inner end a bevei pinion GG meshing with a similar pinion 'H secured to shaft 58. Shaft 68 extends upwardly into the chamber formed by the valve cover 34 and has secured thereto a crank 12 to which is rotatably secured the inner ends of valve actuating rods '13, the opposite ends of which arms are rotatably engaged with pins 14 on the outer ends of slide valves 15. i

Themetering mechanism thus far described, is substantially the same as that shown in my prior application &15,716 and the operation thereof is similar to the operation described in said application. The valves '55 are of such size that not more than two of the ports are in communication therewith at one time. In one position of the valves, the ports 3? and 38 are in communication, and port 39 is open to the distributing chamber 33, whereupon fluid will enter port 39 and will pass through to the vertical member ZI and passage to the bottom of one piston 45 which at this time is at the lower limit of its stroke,

whereby the piston tii will be forced upwardly. u

Movement of the piston operates connecting rod 53 and rotates the crank disk 55 to impart rotation to cross shaft 58 which in turn through pinions 69 and 'H will impart rotation to shaft 68 and by crank arm 72 will impart sliding mo- 10 tion to the valves '55, and as the pist/on 65 moves upwardly fluid in the chamber l will be forced outwardly through ports 38 to the outlet connection ai. As this piston 55 continues its upward movement the valves 15 are reciprocated to rela verse the path of the liquid and connect the inlet portion 29 with the lower end of the other piston 35. The operation of these pistons will be continuous and since they are connected to the crank disks 55 at 90 degrees apart there will be no dead 0 center for the meter.

In order that the meter may be accurately calibrated for correct registration of the Volume of fluid, the novel adjustment mechanism, about to be described, is associated therewith. Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, one crank disk 55 is provided with a radial slot 'iii in which is mounted a radially adjustable block T'i, the slot 16 and the block 'H being provided with an interlocked tongue and groove ?8 to prevent twisting of these parts. The block TE carries the crank pin 5@ to which its connecting rod 53 is swivelled.

Journaled on the integral hub 51 of this crank disk 55 is a gear 19 which is of slightly greater diameter than the crank disk 55. The gear 19 is 35 provided with a spiral slot 85 into which projects the headed end 82 of the crank pin 54. This headed end 82 of the crank pin is elongated in the direction of the slot 8! and is shaped to fit accurately in said slot. 40

The gear 19 is pressed into firm engagement with the crank disk 55 by a bowed friction spring 83 slidably engaged in a slot 84 in the hub 51 of the crank disk 55.

From the above description it will be clear that 457 the crank pin 54 is not rigidly connected to the crank disk 55 but is carried by slidable block 11, and engages in slot 8! of gear '39. Rotation of the gear 19 is imparted to the crank-disk 55 due to the frictional engagement oi the meeting faces 50 thereof caused by pressure of flat friction spring 83. It will be clear that the operative throw of the crank pin 54 is dependent upon the position of the 'portion 82 of said pin in the slot Bl, it having been noted that slot 8! is spiral and different 55 portions thereof are at different radial distances from the center of rotation of the shaft 58.

In order to provide a ready means for adjusting the position of the crank pin 54 and its end 32 in the slot 8I, the casting H is provided with a threaded opening 85 in which is mounted a bushing or stung box body 86 providing a hearing for a shaft 81. The inner end of shaft 81 is guided for reciprocating and rotating movement in a bore ss drilled in the casting H. Shaft 81 has a pinion 89 secured thereto for meshing engagement with the gear 19. Near its opposite end the shaft 81 has secured thereto a collar 91, the end of the shaft beyond the collar being squared for the reception or" a wrench. A spring 92 coiled around shaft 8? engages the collar SI to hold the gear 89 normally out of engagement with gear 19.

The opening for the shaft 8'! is maintained fluidtight by, a stuffing 'box fiange 93 held in position by an adjustable fiange nut 94. A cap 95 is secured to the .fiange .nut 94 for enclosing the outer end of the shaft 81.

The operation of this adjustment for calibrating for inaccuracies of the meter is as follows. Normally the spring 92 .engaging with the collar 9! holds the shaft 81 outwardly and the pinion 89 does not engage with the gear' 19. When it is necessary to adjust the meter to calibrate for inaccuracies, the cap 95 is removed and a wrench is engaged .with the outer end of shaft 81 and shaft 81 is pushed inwardly until the pinion 89 engages with the teeth of gear 19. Rotation of the shaft 81 will then impart rotation to the gear 19 by way of the pinion 89 to thus turn the gear 19 with respect to the crank disk 55, the friction spring 83 allowing this relative movement. Rotationof the gear 19 causes the end 82 of the crank pin 54 to move in the spiral slot 8! to thus either approach or recede from the center of rotation of the disk 55. Clockwise rotation of the shaft 81 willcause the crank pin 54 to move inwardly carrying with it the sliding block 711 which will in efiect shorten the stroke of the piston and the meter will dispense less fluid per revolution. Reverse rotation of the shaft 81 will lengthen the stroke of the piston and result in the meter dispensing more fluid per revolution.

It will thus be seen that a simple adjustment is provided wherein the meter may be accurately calibrated to correctly register flows, and such adjustments may be accomplished without dismantling the meter. Due to the fact that the slot 8! is spiral, and that the pinion 89 greatly reduces the motion of shaft 81 with 'respect to the gear 19, a verv fine adjustment or calibration may be obtained. When the correct adjustment is obtained, the cap -95 is replaced and the friction spring 83 serves as an eificient drive for the registering mechanism associated with the meter.

In the form of invention disclosed in Figures 1-7 only one adjustment is shown for one of the pistons. Obviously, such an adjustment may be associated with both pistons if desirable. Also it will be understood that the invention is not limited to use with cylinders whose walls are transparent.

Referring now to Figures 7-13 there is disclosed a modified form of adjustment for the same type of meter. The details of the valves, cylinders and ports are not shown in Figures 7 to 13 since they may be similar to the form shown in Figures 1 to 6. The upper crank member !0!, in the form of a disk, shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9, is provided with a radial bore !32 which is threaded for the reception of a pin !03. The pin !03 has threaded portions !04 and adjacent opposite ends thereof for engagement with the threads of bore !02. One end of the pin !03 projects beyond the periphery of the crank disk o and has rigidly secured thereto a star wheel !06 and is provided with a kerf !01 for the reception of a screwdriver.

The bore !02 terminates in a slot !08, and slidably received in said slot is a slide block !09. The block !09 is swivelled to the projecting end of the pin !03. The face of crank disk u is provided With outwardly projecting portions which are angularly cut toward slot !08, the block !09 being provided with a similarly shaped overhanging portion to engage between the members l.

The block !99 has secured thereto thecrank pin !!2 for engagement with the connecting rod 53 of the piston.

From the Construction as thus described, it

Will be obvious that rotation of the pin !03 will carry the crank pin ![2 away from or closer to the center of rotation of the' crank disk o, said crank disk being provided with a hub portion !3 for engagement with a shaft 58, similar 5 to shaft 58 of Figure l. Rotation of the pin !83 is initially accomplished and the parts are initially assembled, by engagement of a screwdriver with the kerf !81 thereof. In order to readily adjust the throw of the crank disk 8! by move- 10 ment of the pin !03 the following mechanism is associated with the meter.

Referring to Figure '1 it will be seen that the meter is provided With a stufiing box body !!4 having its central axis in the plane of movement 15 of the rotary crank'disk lili. This stuifing box body has a stufng box collar 5 and a stufng box flange !ta for compressing packing therebetween by means of a gland nut !!1 threaded into the body H t. Mounted ,for reciprocation 20 and rotation in the stufling box body is a shaft MS having secured to its inner end a plate !IS carrying a pin !2!.

The inner end of the shaft !!8 is guided by a guide collar !22 shown in detail in Figures 11, 25 12 and 13. This guide collar !22 has a lower portion !23 adapted for a forced fit with the lower end of the stufling box body. A circular opening !24 passes through the guide collar !22 and the opening is elongated at opposite sides as 0 shown at !25 to accommodate a pin !25 secured to shaft 8. The guide collar is further provided with an upwardly and outwardly projecting flange portion !21 which is received within the bore of the stufiing box body !!4. The outer 35 end of shaft !!B is provided with a kerf !28 adapted to receive a screwdriver, said kerf being provided in a head !29 beneath which is a coil spring !3! engaging the stuifing box flange !IG to normally hold the shaft !!8 outwardly in the 40 position shown in Figure 7. The outer end of the gland nut !!1 is closed by detachable cover !32.

The operation of this modification of my invention is as follows. The meter functions in 45 the manner previously described in connection with Figures 1-6, the pistons being reciprocated by pressure of the liquid and passing the liquid in measured quantities through the outlets of the meter. Figure 7 illustrates the application 0 of the adjusting mechanism to only one of the crank disks MI, but it will be obvious that this adjustment may be applied to both pistons of the meter if this is found desirable. operation of the upper crank disk IU! will cause the star 55 wheel !86 carried thereby to pass the outwardly projecting pin 2! carried by the shaft !!8 as seen in Figure '7.

When it is necessary to adjust the meter to calibrate for inaccu'acies in the registering (30 mechanism, the cap !32 is removed and a screw driver is inserted in the kerf !28. If the necessary adjustment is a positive one, that is, if the meter is delivering less fluid than the register indicates, the plunger !!8 is pushed directly in- 65 wardly from the position shown in Figure '7. By this movement of the shaft !!8 the pin !26 thereof enters one of the slots !25 of the bearing block !22 and the crank !!9 and the pin !29 move inwardly such that said pin intersects 70 the path of movement of the star wheel !06. The meter is then caused to rotate by hand or otherwise and for each revolution of the crank disk ill the pin !2! engages the star wheel and causes a partial rotation thereof. This rotation will 75 gradually turn the threaded shaft !03 upwardly into the crank disk in! to slide the block ws'outwardly therein,- and thus increase the operative throw of the crank pin HZ and thereby cause the meter to deliver more fluid for each reciprocation of the piston. When reverse calibration is desired the shaft 8 is rotated 180 from the position shown in Figure '7 to a position wherein the pin !2'6 carried by said shaft will enter the opposite slot !25 and when pushed inward the pin i2| will engage the prongs of the star wheel on the opposite side. Rotation of the crank disk a will therefore turn the shaft 103 slowly outwardly to decrease the operative throw of the crank pin l I'Z and its piston.

The portion !27 of the bearing !22 provides two faces 180 degrees apart for engagement by the pin ne such that said pin cannot be moved more than 180 degrees. The opposite slots !25 cooperate with the pin l26 in such manner that the shaft 8 cannot be pushed inwardly except When the same is in one of its two extreme positions for adjustment. The spring s normally retains the shaft 8 in its inoperative position wherein the pin !21 does not interfere with the throw of the crank pin m.

It will be understood that in the various forms of my invention the cylinders may be made transparent or opaque whichever is desirable, the transparent walls being advantageous when the meter is positioned in the View of the purchaser of the liqud to avoid the necessity of using a separate indicator to show the flow of liquid.

From the embo'diments of the inventon as ilustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other expedients may be adopted to give a variable and adjustable throw to the crank shaft of these meters.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and non restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the 'foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. In a liquid meter, the combination of a casing, a crank shaft adapted to operate a register and having a crank member thereon, a block carrying a crank pin adjustably Secured to said crank member, a reciprocating piston connected to said crank pin for Operating said crank shaft, means rotatable with said crank member for adjusting the radial position of said block and pin without e the necessity of halting said crank member and bringing it to a predetermined position, and reciprocable means extending through said casing and adapted, in a forward operative position, to engage said adjusting means for causing movement thereof relative to adjust the radial position of said block and pin, said means being retractble into an inoperative position, and means for sealing said reciprocable means against leakage.

2. In a liquid meter the combination of a casing, a crank shaft adapted -to operate a register and having a crank member thereon, a block carrying a crank pin adjustably Secured to said crank member, a reciprocating piston and connecting rod connected to said crank pin for Operating said crank shaft, means rotatable with said crank .the necessity of halting said bringing it to a predetermined position and a rod 5 connecting rod connected the crank member to i member and projecting therefrom for adjusting the radial position of said block and pin, said means being susceptible of adjustment without crankmember and mounted in the wall of said casing in sealing relation thereto and having a member thereon arranged to be interposed in the path of said adjusting means for causing movement thereof to adjust the radial position of said block and pin. w 3. In a iiquid meter the combination of a casing, a crank shaft adapted to operate a register and having a crank member thereon with a radial bore, a threaded shaft engaged in said bore carrying a block and crank pin, a reciprocating piston and to said crank pin for Operating said crank shaft, means extending from said threaded shaft for .rotating said threaded shaft, means mounted in a wall of said casing and extending through said casing into the path of v said first means for coacting with said first means for rotating said threaded shaft, while said crank member is in operation.

4. In a liquid meter the combination of a casing, a crank shaft adapted to operate a register and having a crankmember thereon, a threaded shaft radially disposed of said crank member and engaged therewith, a block carrying a crank pin engaging said threaded shaft, a reciprocating piston and connecting rod connected to said crank 0 pin for Operating said crank shaft, an Operating member secured to said threaded rod and projecting therefrom and rotated with said crank member, and a rod mounted to reciprocate in a portion of said casing and adapted to be inserted in the path of said Operating member to cause rotation thereof while said crank member is in operation.

5. 'In a liquid meter the combination of a casing, a crank shaft adapted to operate a register and 40 having a crank member thereon, a threaded shaft radially disposed of said crank member and engaged therewith, a block carrying a erank pin engaging said threaded shaft, a reciprocating piston and connecting rod connected to said crank pin for Operating said 'crank shaft, a star wheel Secured to said threaded rod and projecting therefrom and rotated with said crank member, and a rod mounted to reciprocate in a portion of said casing and adapted to be inserted in the path of said star wheel to rotate the same to adjust said block and pin While said crank member is in operation.

6. In aliquid meter the combination of a casing, a crank shaft adapted to operate a register and having a crank member thereon, a block carrying a crank pin, adjustable means for securing said block to said crank member, a reciprocating piston and connecting rod connected to said crank pin for Operating said crank shaft, a gear adjustably secured to said crank member and rotatable therewith, and having said crank pin extending through an eccentric slot therein, and a retractive rod having a pinion thereon adapted to mesh with said gear for causing rotation thereof to adjust the radial position of said block and pin.

7. In a liquid meter the combination of a casing, a crank shaft therein having a crank, means to adjust the throw of said crank without the necessity of halting the same and bringing it to a predetermined position, a reciprocating piston and connecting rod connected to said crank, a stuffing box body associated with said casing and having a gland therein, a rod arranged to reciprocate in said gland and stufiing box body and arranged us to operate said throw adjusting means when in operative position, and means for normally retaining said rod in inop'erative position.

8. In a, liquid meter the combination of a casing, a crank shaft therein having a crank, means to adjust the throw of said crank Without the necessity of halting the same and bringing it to a predetermined position, a reciprocating piston and connecting rod connected to said crank, a stuffing 10 box body associated With said casing and having a gland therein, a rod arranged to reciprocate in said gland and stufiing box body and arranged to operate said throw adjustng means when in a. relatively forward position, means for normally retaning said rod in a relatively retracted and inoperative position, a threaded sleeve for adjusting said gland, and a cap threaded on said sleeve for covering the outer end. of said rod.

HARRY G. WEYMOUTH. 

